Sonu Yadav performed a hat-trick for Royal Kings.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

In the first three days of the ninth season of TNPL, a clear pattern has emerged.

The method so far has been to bowl first, restrict the opponent to a below-par score and then chase it down.

After Dindigul Dragons and Chepauk Super Gillies, it was the turn of Nellai Royal Kings to execute this formula as it posted a five-wicket win over Trichy Grand Cholas at the Sri Ramakrishna College Ground here on Saturday.

Chasing 158, the Royal Kings’ skipper K.B. Arun Karthick got his side off to a flyer, smashing a quickfire 41 (21b, 6×4, 2×6). At the other end, D. Santhosh Kumar hit V. Athisayaraj Davidson for four boundaries in the third over as the Nellai side managed 66 in the PowerPlay. But off-spinner U. Mukilesh (three for 23) brought his side back into the game, taking three wickets in four overs, including that of Santhosh. N.S. Harish (35 n.o., 22b, 5×4, 1×6), however, held his nerve and found timely boundaries to get his side past the finish line.

The victory, though, was set up by the Royal Kings’ bowlers, who restricted the Cholas to just 157 for eight. Top-order batters Waseem Ahmed and Jafar Jamal were too conservative despite a deep batting line-up as their side managed 62 in the first 10 overs. Later, R. Rajkumar gave some momentum through his quick unbeaten 30.

But medium-pacer Sonu Yadav sent in a dream final over, performing a hat-trick to restrict the Cholas to a gettable total. Fittingly, Sonu closed out the game with the bat by tonking his brother Sanjay Yadav down the ground for a six.

The scores: Trichy Grand Cholas 157/8 in 20 overs (Waseem Ahmed 41, Jaffer Jamal 39, R. Rajkumar 30 n.o., Sonu Yadav 3/22) lost to Nellai Royal Kings 162/5 in 19.2 overs (K.B. Arun Karthick 41, D. Santhosh Kumar 45, N.S. Harish 35 n.o.; U. Mukilesh 3/23). Toss: NRK.

Sunday’s matches: Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Salem Spartans (3.15 p.m.); Dindigul Dragons vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans (7.15 p.m.)